Jindabyne, 2006, dir. Lawrence
This film is just amazing. I saw it today (opening day) before stuff such as Pirates of the Caribbean (that's how much I was anticipating it) and it was definitely worth the five year wait that Ray Lawrence forced (since his other masterpiece Lantana). This film revolves around four men from the New South Wales town of Jindabyne (also seen in Somersault for you Aussie film watchers) who go on a fishing trip and discover the body of a young Aboriginal girl. Instead of leaving and informing police, they remain for the weekend and continue their fishing. Upon returning to the town, the locals react against them, their families are tested and they must deal with what they have done. Did the sinister countryside put a spell over them, or are they simply stupid? That's just a taste of what goes on in this brilliant piece of cinema. This will certainly be in my Top 5 of the year (although the rest of the year does look strong), but I will write a proper review in a day or so when the film has settled more. But as of the moment - See. This. Movie. It is truly special, and is just another in a long line of top notch Aussie films. It should get the box-office it deserves to. Lantana created a lot of fans.
My Super Ex-Girlfriend, 2006, dir. ReitmanIt's not very often that a Hollywood superhero movie starring the likes of Uma Thurman would be relegated to sloppy seconds after an Australian drama, but that's the power of Ray Lawrence's Jindabyne. This film directed by Ivan Reitman has a great premise, but unfortunately looks a little on a ridiculous side. However, I admit to being interested. Plus, the sight of Uma Thurman in a hot superhero outfit is tempting. Could have some chuckles. Maybe on DVD, or the cinema on Cheap Tuesday! I do love the tagline tho! - "He broke her heart. She broke his everything."
16 Blocks, 2006, dir. Donner
YAWN. Bruce Willis plays a hardened alcoholic policeman who gets asked to fill a shift that shouldn't be eventful, but of course will end up being so. I think I've seen this on more than one occasion. Also stars Mos Def and David Morse.
The White Massai, 2005, dir. Huntgeburth
While this one sounds sorta interesting - white woman leaves her boyfriend to take up with black tribal man, must learn to deal - it all looks sorta lacklustre. I saw the trailer in front of Ten Canoes and it was just so blah-looking. It seems that people who have seen it speak fondly of it, but it's lack of a US release speaks volumes. I think I've got other movies to spend money on.
Half Light, 2006, dir. RosenbergI doubt we'd be even discussing this horrible-looking low grade entry into the thriller/mystery genre if it weren't for star Demi Moore. Curious, it's quite obvious that Moore took this role thinking it would be a hit like all the similar ones, but instead it's either gotten a next-to-nothing release or no release at all (direct-to-DVD). This just looks poor, really. Something about the English coastal region and a ghost or... I dunno. This just doesn't interest me at all.
1. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2)
2. Little Man (1)
3. Over the Hedge (4)
4. Superman (3)
5. Click (4)
6. Cars (6)
7. Ten Canoes (3)
8. The Break-Up (6)
9. Stick It (5)
10. Wah-Wah (4)
Interesting week at the box-office this week. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (How annoying is that to type over and over?) falls only 37% to sit at $22.5mil after 2 weeks. Amazing, really. No other word for it. Just amazing. Will easily made it to $35mil, which would be the same league as Narnia, Revenge of the Sith, Meet the Fockers and Babe (odd combo there) just outside of the Top 10 of all time. If it reaches $40mil it will be at #8 of all time (between The Phantom Menace on $38mil and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone at $42mil). I doubt it can reach $50mil though - the only two titles to reach that high are Shrek 2 and Titanic (Titanic has a $7mil lead over Shrek 2 btw).
Debuting at #2 (same as in America) is the Wayan's fright-factory Little Man. Thankfully it only made $1.5mil and should disappear quickly considering it doesn't have the bonus marketing value of paying out Paris Hilton. Over the Hedge falls 9% and remains above $1mil for the fourth week in a row. This film is having a fantastic run, and it currently sits at $14mil and is going to be a bigger hit than Cars, unlike in America.
Superman Returns stops it's heamoraging enough to fall only 26% (apart from Pirates, this was still the biggest fall of the week) and remain above $1mil again. This is gonna be even more of a flop than Mission Impossible 3 was here. Click falls 21% at #5 and Cars falls an excellent 11% at #6.
At #7 sits the Australian wonder that is Ten Canoes. I already discussed how great this film is performing the other day. I am just so happy that this quirky film is finding a audience. If Palace play their cars right this could be huge - upwards of $5mil is not out of the question. It'll be great to see this and Jindabyne both on the chart next week (Jindabyne should place Top 5) as it's been a long time since two quality Aussie films were in the Top 10 at the same time.
Next are The Break-Up and Stick It two big hits coming to a close. They were down 15% and 23% respectively. Stick It is just another example of the tween movie being a big success in Australia. Earlier this year She's The Man became one of the biggest surprises of the year making $6.2mil. At #10 is Richard E Grant's Wah-Wah, which continues to post excellent numbers at the bottom of the chart. Wah-Wah now has over $1.5mil and fell 6% in it's 4th weekend. The film is a smash here, whereas in America is became just another in a long line of arthouse movies brushed aside.
Outside of the Top 10 were debuting films Sione's Wedding at #11 with a decent take of $178,000 and a comparable average to Wah-Wah, but on less screens. Beyond the Sea - Kevin Spacey's ultra-delated Bobby Darrin vanity project - made a big splash, taking #14, but snagging an average of $10,896. Good work considering there was absolutely no overseas buzz to work from. They had to create it all themselves. Also debuting, at #16, was Hard Candy with an average of $5,459 (literally $10 less than the average for Wah-Wah). Tristram Shandy continues to pack them in on 12 screens down 12% from last week, but River Queen lost 29% and fell to #19 in it's second week. Debuting unranked was Golmaal with $23,204 on four screens.
Next week it will be extremely interesting to see how Jindabyne goes. Can they capitalise on Lantana phenomenal success in 2001 ($12mil+ gross) and get a big debut, or will this film ape that film's near-unheard of word-of-mouth to reach the box-office heights? We'll see...
2 comments:
Ooh, how was Laura Linney in Jindabyne? It doesn't look like this has an American release date yet, and I'm curious.
Interesting site. Useful information. Bookmarked.
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